Method and apparatus for uplasting footwear



Feb. .7- J. 5. KAMBORIAN 2,415,354

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPLASTING FOOTWEAR Filed Dec. 16, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet l y INVENTOR.

Jaaa&jllfamarm Feb. 4, 1947. s. KAMBORIAN. 2,415,354

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPLASTING' FOOTWEAR Filed Dec. 16,- 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jae a5 EMarzfara Patented Feb. 4, i947 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORUPLASTING FOOTWEAR .iacob S. KamboriamWest Newton, Mass.

Application Becember 16, 1944, Serial No. 568,472

21 Claims.

This invention pertains to an improvement in the manufacture of footwearand relates more particularly to a machine for use in the lasting ofshoes of the California, force-lasted or slip-lasted type.

Shoes of this type are characterized by the provision of a flexiblestrip or wrapper secured to or integral with the lower margin of theupper and constituting a lasting margin which conceals and protects anintermediate, middle, or cushion sole usually designated as a platformthe lasting margin being suitably bonded to the bottom surface of theplatform.

One method of lasting such shoes includes the steps of uniting the upperand sock lining, securing the wrapper to the lower margin of the upper,introducing a last and securing the platform thereto. the wrapper isparallel to the upper and surrounds the last or at least the lower partthereof.

In order to bond the wrapper to the bottom surface of the platform sothat it conceals the edge wall thereof, it is necessary that the wrapperbe shifted from the position parallel to the upper into the plane of theupper. This shifting of the wrapper is termed in the trade up-lastingsince it has heretofore been performed with the shoe up side down andthat term will be used herein despite the fact that, as will be pointedout hereinbelow, the shifting is performed with the shoe in its normalposition.

This Lip-lasting of the wrapper may be and often has been carried out byhand with the assistance of lasting pincers particularly at the heel andtoe of the shoe where the wrapper tends to resist such movement. Amachine for performing this operation is disclosed in U. S. Patent2,394,997, granted February 19, 1946, on an application filed by JacobS. Kamborian. While this machine has proven satisfactory, there is ademand for a simpler machine having a minimum of moving parts and bywhich the wrapper is up-lasted at the forepart and heel of the shoe, anyintermediate portions of the wrapper being subsequently up-lasted byhand.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine which canbe employed by the operator as a substitute for the lasting pincers andby which the wrapper at heel andtoe of the shoe can be quickly andsatisfactorily uplasted. A further object of this invention is toprovide a machine by which the up-lasting operation is performed withthe shoe in the normal position so that the operator can readily andeasily determine if the wrapper has been drawn At this point in thelasting operation snugly around the edge wall of the platform. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a fulcrum about which the lastedshoe is rocked in the performance of the up-lasting step, such fulcrumbeing movable in a vertical plane to facilitate the insertion of thelasted shoe and to vary the movement of the shoe as it is being uplastedin response to the resistance set up by the wrapper to up-lasting.

Other objects of the invention will appear from a consideration of thefollowing description thereof and of the accompanying drawings whichillustrate one embodiment of the invention and in which Fig. l is a sideelevation of a machine embodying one form of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of such machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the operation of the machine inaccordance with this invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of a lasted shoe before andafter it has been uplasted; and

Fig. 7 is a section through both turning fingers showing each fingerprovided with a gripper jaw which seizes the free edge of the wrapper.

The machine illustrated in the drawings as one embodiment of theinvention comprises a base i, a pedestal 2 extending upwardly therefrom,a rod '3 carried by the base i and vertically reciprocable relativethereto by any suitable means as for example a treadle it positioned foractuation by the operator of the machine. The pedestal 2 is here shownas integral with the base I' but obviously it might, if deemeddesirable,

be a separate u rigidly secured in position. Fixed at the top 0 thepedestal 2 is a cylindrical head 4 provided in its periphery with acontinuous channel 5 and having a hole 8, extending diametrically andtransversely through the head i, and opening at each end into thechannel 5.

A pair of arms l is secured. to the head by means of a rod 8 whichpasses through the hole 6 and apertures 9 in the arms near one endthereof. The arms are yieldably held in contact with the head t by meansof springs it surrounding the ends of the rod 8, the tension of thesprings being regulated by nut and washer units ii in mesh with thethreaded ends of the larger diameter than the rod 8 and since thechannel is annular, the arms may swing horizontally during the operationof the machine. It will also be noted that the arms and channel are ofsuch dimensions that the arms are held at a desired relation to thebase, shown in the illustrated embodiment as parallel to the base andare prevented by the walls I3 of the channel 5 from moving substantiallyout of this selected relation.

The free ends of the arms I are provided with inwardly directed turningfingers [4 which exend rearwardly and downwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and2. The lower corners of the tips of the fingers are preferably rounded.While the fingers M are here shown integral with the arms it is obviousthat they might be separate elements secured to the arms by any suitablemeans. The fingers M are tapered in cross section (Fig. 3) and arepreferably curved so that they are slightly concave toward each other asshown in Fig. 2 and thus they conform to the contour of the oppositesides respectively of the upper at either the toe or the heel end of ashoe, the two curved fingers collectively constituting a turning tool ofgenerally U-shape within whose cavity the end portion of the shoe isreceived. The distance between the fingers l4 may be regulated asdesired by turning the nuts 1! on the rod 8 and thus pivoting the arms Iabout the head 4.

The rod 3 comprises a stem freely reciprocable in a boss l6 and acrowned cap I! which serves as afulcrum for the shoe during theup-lasted operation as hereinafter described. The crowned conformationof the cap ll permits rocking and sliding the shoe so that it is easilyraised and retracted by the operator relative to the fingers [4.

The rod 3 is so located with. reference to the fingers N that when it israised by actuation of th treadle [8 the fingers will enter the spacebetween the wrapper and the upper of a shoe resting on the cap I! (Fig.l)

The operation of this machine will be described in the up-lasting of ashoe of the type known in the trade as California, force-lasted orslip-lasted. Such a shoe comprises an upper 20, a sock lining unitedtherewith, and a wrapper 22 attached to the margin of the upper. A last23 is introduced by forcing or slipping it into the shoe and a platform24 is attached to the sock lining 2i by the means of adhesive,mechanical fasteners or the like. The wrapper 22 at this point in themanufacture of the shoe is parallel to the upper. The purpose of thismachine is to shift or up-last the wrapper so that it is in the plane ofthe upper and extends past the edge wall of the platform 24. In order tomake a satisfactory shoe the wrapper must be drawn snugly about the edgewall of the platform.

The operator places one end of the shoe, held in its normal position,with the fingers M in the space between the wrapper and the upper atboth sides of the toe or heel end of the shoe. The arms I have beenpreviously so set by the operator by means of the nuts II that thefingers I4 bear snugly upon the upper at each side of the shoe. The post3 is then raised to bring the cap I! into contact with the sole of theshoe which is then rocked on the cap H as a fulcrum to raise that end ofthe shoe which is held between the fingers !4 and concomitantly slidover the cap to retract the shoe from between the fingers. As a resultof these movements the tips of the fingers I4 wipe or peel the portionof the wrapper engaged thereby past the edge wall of the platform 24 andup-last it. This operation is repeated upon the wrapper at the other endof the shoe and the up-lasting of any portion of the wrapper notup-lasted, usually at the shank, is performed manually withoutdifficulty. Since the shoe is held in its normal position the operatorcan watch the operation and so manipulate the shoe that the wrapper willbe wiped snugly over the edge of the last.

In order to increase the draw upon the wrapper and thereby to insure asnug wiping over the edge of the last, the fingers l4 may be providedwith spring pressed gripper jaws 25 (Fig. '7), having manually actuablhandles 26, which are caused to seize the free edge of the wrapper atthe beginning of the turning operation and thereby drag the wrapper overthe edge of the last, such jaws 25 being so constructed, that, as theturning operation is completed, the edge of the wrapper will bewithdrawn from the jaws.

The machine has been described in its operation upon one type of shoebut it will be understood that other types of shoe can be up-lasted byit. Consequently in the claims referenc is made to the treatment of thelasting margin of the shoe upper which includes but is not limited tothe wrapper of a California shoe. Similarly the generic term sole hasbeen used to cover not only the platform of that shoe but any middle,cushion or intermediate sole or insole past the side wall of which thelasting margin extends.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described itwill be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and thatother embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. In a machine for up-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, means carried by said fingerfor seizing the free edge of the lasting margin and a fulcrumed membervertically reciprocable in said base below said fingers.

2. In a machine for Lip-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, means carried by said fingerfor seizing the free edge of the lasting margin, means yieldably holdingsaid arms in contact with said pedestal and a fulcrum member verticallyreciprocable in said base below said fingers.

3. In a machine for up-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a basepedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, means yieldably holding saidarmsin contact with said pedestal, yieldable means connecting the firstmentioned ends of said arms, and a fulcrum member verticaliyreciprocable in said base below said fingers.

and downwardly inclined finger and means carried by said finger forseizing the free edge of the lasting margin,

5. In a machine for up-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm beingattachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, and means yieldably urgingsaid fingers toward each other.

6. In a machine for up-lasting the margin of a shoe upper, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair or arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, means yieldably urging saidfingers toward each other, and means for preventing vertical travel ofsaid arms.

7. In a machine for up-lasting the margin of a shoe upper, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, and means engaging the firstmentioned ends of said arms for yieldably urging said fingers towardeach other.

8. In a machine for up-lasting the margin of a shoe upper, a base, apedestal mounted on said base, a pair of arms, each arm being attachedadjacent one end to said pedestal and terminating at its other end in arearwardly and downwardly inclined finger, and means engaging the firstmentioned ends of said arms for yieldably urging said fingers towardeach other and means preventing vertical travel of said arms.

9. In a machine for up-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a pair ofdownwardly inclined fingers yieldably held in spaced relation to eachother and a fulcrum member upon which the shoe is supported with one endof the shoe between said fingers and with the fingers inserted betweenthe lasting margin and the upper at each side of the shoe respectivelynear the end thereof and about which fulcrum member the shoe is rockedto cause the fingers to up-last the lasting margin.

10. In a machine for up-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe, a pair ofdownwardly inclined fingers yieldably held in spaced relation to eachother, a fulcrum member upon which the shoe is supported with one end ofthe shoe between said fingers and with the fingers inserted between thelasting margin and the upper at each side respectively of the shoe nearthe end thereof, and about which fulcrum member the shoe is rocked tocause the fingers to up-last the lasting margin and means for raisingand lowering the fulcrum member to facilitate the treatment of the shoe.

11. That method of up-lasting a lasted shoe by the use of a pair offingers which comprises the steps of holding the shoe in its normalposition, introducing the fingers between the wrapper and upper at bothsides of the shoeadjacent one end thereof, and rocking the shoe to raisethat end relative to the fingers whereby the wrapper is up-lasted.

12. That method of up-lasting a lasted shoe by the use of a pair offingers which comprises the steps of holding the shoe in its normalposition, introducing the fingers between the wrapper and upper at bothsides of the shoe adjacent one end thereof and concomitantly rocking theshoe to raise that end relative to the fingers and retracting the shoefrom said fingers whereby the wrapthe steps of holding the shoe in itsnormal posi-- tion, introducing the fingers between the wrapper andupper at both sides of the shoe adjacent one end thereof into yieldablecontact with the upper and rocking the shoe to raise that end relativeto the fingers whereby the wrapper is wiped down and Lip-lasted.

14. That method of up-lasti-ng a lasted shoe by the use of a pair offingers which comprises the steps of holding the shoe inits normalposition, introducing the fingers between the wrapper and upper at bothsides of the shoe adjacent one end thereof into yieldable contact withthe upper and concomitantly rocking the shoe to raise that end relativeto the fingers and re-' 15. That method of up-lasting by the use of apair or fingers, the wrapper of a lasted shoe comprising an upper, asock lining, a wrapper and a platform, said upper and lining beingunited, said wrapper being attached to the upper and being substantiallyparallel thereto, and said platform being secured to the sock lining,which method comprises the steps of inserting the fingers between thewrapper and the upper at one end of the shoe and setting up a relativerocking movement between the shoe and the fingers by which the wrapperat that end of the shoe is wiped snugly about the edge wall of theplatform and up-lasted.

16. That method of up-lasting by the use of a pair of fingers, thewrapper of a lasted shoe comprising an upper, a sock lining, a wrapper,and

a platform, said upper and lining being united, said wrapper beingattached to the upper and being substantially parallel thereto, and saidplatform being secured to the sock lining, which method comprises thesteps of inserting the fingers between the wrapper and the upper at oneend of the shoe and setting up relative rocking and longitudinalmovement between the shoe and the fingers by which the wrapper at thatend of the shoe is wiped snugly about the edge wall of the platform andup-lasted.

17. That method of up-lasting the wrapper at one end of a shoe of theforce-lasted type which comprises as steps introducing abutment elementsbetween the wrapper and upper at opposite sides of said end of the shoe,and swinging the shoe about a fulcrum intermediate its ends so as tocause the aforementioned end of the shoe to move relatively to theabutment elements so as to peel the wrapper away from the upper.

18. That method of up-lasting the wrapper at one end of a shoe of theforce-lasted type which comprises as steps positioning the shoeright-side up, introducing abutment elements between the upper andwrapper at one end of the shoe and swinging the other end of the shoedownwardly about a transverse fulcrum intermediate its ends, thereby tocause the aforementioned end of the shoe to rise relatively to theabutment elements so as to peel the wrapper downwardly away from theupper.

19. A machine for rip-lasting the lasting margin of a shoe having suchlasting margin parallel to the upper whereby such margin is brought intothe plane of the upper, comprising a vertically reciprocable fulcrummember upon which the sole of the shoe rests, arms terminating infingers which fingers enter the space between the lasting margin and theupper at opposite sides of the shoe and means for actuating said memberto raise the shoe between the arms whereby when the shoe is rocked uponthe member, the fingers act upon the lasting margin to up-last the same.

20. In a machine for uplasting the lasting margin of a shoe comprisingan upper and a sole member, independent opposed concave elementscollectively defining a tool of generally U-shape designed substantiallyto embrace an end portion of a shoe upper, said concave elements beingrelatively movable thereby to vary the eiTective size of the tool toaccommodate shoes of different sizes, said concave elements havingrounded edges designed to be entered between the lasting margin and theupper of the shoe, and a movable support engageable with the sole memberof the shoe to support the shoe while the lasting margin is beingturned.

21. In a machine for turning the wrapper of a force lasted shoe, a base,a pedestal mounted on the base, a vertically movable shoe supportarranged to slide in a guideway in the base, and means for raising thesupport from an inopera- REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,336,750 La Chapelle Apr. 13,1920 1,291,757 Brothers Jan. 21, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 271,510 German Aug. 30, 1913 353,755 British July 30, 1931

